ECOCLUB.com Awards 2011 - Our Annual Grants Program

The Winners of the ECOCLUB.com Awards 2011

Doctors of the World - Greece (Médecins du Monde - Grèce)

ECOCLUB.com provided a Euros 3,000 grant to cover equipment costs in the Doctors of the World Polyclinic ("Polyiatreio") in downtown Athens. The clinic provides free health care to immigrants, uninsured workers and the underpriviledged all of whom are facing more difficulties due to the economic crisis.

The ECOCLUB.com grant will be used to fund the purchase of an ultrasound device by the gynaecological department.

An interview with Eugenia Thanou, Director General of Doctors of the World (Greece) follows:

ECOCLUB.com: What are the main challenges that the polyclinic is facing today?

E. Thanou: The polyclinic mostly operates thanks to volunteer doctors and nurses. However patient numbers are constantly increasing and unfortunately the number of volunteers is disproportionately small. There is a need for both medical supplies and medications.

ECOCLUB.com: Whom does the polyclinic try to assist, and to what extend does it cover their needs?

E. Thanou: The polyclinic serves people who have no access to the National Health System including refugees, immigrants, other destitute people, uninsured workers and low-income pensioners. Each day around 120 patients visit the polyclinic so as to receive primary medical care. Many patients require further laboratory tests so we are seeking collaborators either in the public or in the private sector who are willing to conduct such tests for free.

ECOCLUB.com: What is the best way for someone who is not a doctor or a nurse to assist you?

E. Thanou: They may assist us with the collection and selection of drugs, at the reception desk or even in our search for sponsors and supporters.

ECOCLUB.com: In your view, can the model and/or operations of your organisation expand to other sectors?

E. Thanou: It could well expand in other sectors that deal with other unalienable human rights such as Employment and Education.

Ecological & Socially Just Tourism can not come about only by words; grassroots action is also needed. Since 2004 we have been providing microgrants to eco-projects initiated & implemented by our Members, according to the ECOCLUB.com philosophy and aims. You may find information on projects funded so far by following the links at the top of this page.

Social & ecological justice does not come about only by online campaigns; offline, field action is also needed. Over the past 5 years, since 2004, on the 1st of July, to celebrate our founding anniversary, we have been funding & part-funding micro eco-projects initiated & implemented by our Members, according to the philosophy and aims of ECOCLUB. You may find information on the funded projects by following the links at the top of this page.

In 2010, ECOCLUB.com will offer micro-grants to projects initiated & implemented by our Members, that promote ecological & social justice in local communities. We are doubling our awards budget to Euros 6,000 (amounting to around 40% of our proceeds from Membership fees in 2009) so that three projects can receive a Euros 2,000 grant each. As always, the winning projects will be democratically chosen through a Member vote and the implementation process will be transparently documented online.

The theme of our 7th Annual Awards is "Ecosocial Justice Through Tourism". We call on our Members to consult with their local community and submit tourism-related projects that can help rectify ecological and social injustices at the community level.

Who can apply: The Awards are open to all active ECOCLUB.com Members around the world.

Prize: The total grant this year amounts to Euros 6,000 to be equally shared by three winners upon successful completion of their projects. Each project must be officially undertaken by a legal entity (including the self-employed) that is able to issue an official invoice to us, for legal & transparency reasons.

Key Dates: There will be 3 Award Periods during 2010, each with one winner, as follows: April 1-June 30 (Period A), July 1 - September 30 (Period B) and October 1 - December 31 (Period C). The first date is the application deadline, and the second date is the completion date. The winning projects will be chosen by member vote and announced within the first two weeks of each Award Period, and should be initiated as soon as possible after they have been selected, and no later than May 1, 2010 for Period A / Aug 1 (Period B) / November 1 (Period C). Projects should be fully implemented by the Completion Date: June 30 (Period A) / September 30 (Period B) and December 31, 2010 (Period C). Therefore, the maximum project implementation time is two and a half months.

Project Type: We seek new, independent, realistic, implementable projects which provide tangible, non-abstract, results, and which relate to this year's theme. Projects should have a strong social element, be tangible, small-scale and should be focused on the local community, improving its life and meeting urgent needs in a direct manner. We will first evaluate if a submitted project is eligible, and if it is, it will then be accepted as a candidate. The winning projects will be decided by Member vote.

You should have discussed the real needs of your community, and decided on this project through a direct democratic, participatory approach. Before submitting projects you should have duly researched all legal, technical & practical aspects. Projects should not depend on the performance of 3rd parties, or on factors outside your control.

You may only submit projects that cost up to a maximum of Euros 2,000 to fully implement, including all costs such as wages, fees and materials. Projects should not already be under way, should not also be funded or part-funded by other sources, or submitted for funding to any other organisations and should not in any way depend on the performance of other projects or of other organisations.